Haverhill deaths ruled murder-suicide

Apart from a cleanup crew, the Pine Park Road home of Chrystal Lewis was quiet on Wednesday afternoon. On Tuesday morning, Lewis's body and that of Robert Taylor, whom friends said was her former boyfriend, was found inside. (John Koziol/Correspondent)

The Dragonfly's Den Salon in Wells River, Vt., was closed Wednesday for a “family emergency,” according to a note on the door. On Tuesday morning, Chrystal Lewis, who with her sister Cassidy and a third woman operated the salon, was found dead in her Haverhill home on Pine Ridge Road. Also inside was the body of Robert Taylor, whom friends said was her former boyfriend. (John Koziol/Correspondent)

HAVERHILL — Chrystal Lewis was shot and killed by her former boyfriend Robert Taylor, who then turned the gun on himself, authorities said Wednesday.

Their bodies were discovered Tuesday morning in Lewis’ home at 154 Pine Park Road.

He determined that Lewis died from a single gunshot wound to the head, and that the manner of her death was homicide. Andrew said Taylor died from a single gunshot wound to his head, and that his death was a suicide.

New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald and State Police Col. Christopher Wagner said in a statement that Lewis and Taylor dated for several years, but that Lewis broke off the relationship sometime in July.

Becky and Scott Mitchell, owners of The Brick Store in nearby Bath, said they have known Lewis for decades.

Scott Mitchell grew up in Haverhill and knew Chrystal Lewis from birth. He described her as a “heck of a lady.”

The couple also knew Taylor, who was a plumber with a local company and had done work recently at The Brick Store.

“We’re shocked, saddened, in disbelief,” said Scott Mitchell.

He extended his and his wife’s condolences “to the Lewis family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

The family includes Lewis’ sister, Cassidy, who is one of the operators of The Dragonfly’s Den Salon, Massage and Tanning in Wells River, Vt.

A sign on the door there Wednesday said “Very sorry, closed, family emergency.”

Scott Mitchell said that Lewis’ teenage son “was everything to her.”

Becky Mitchell said Chrystal Lewis was last in The Brick Store some two weeks ago.

“She was a fun girl,” she said. “She made us laugh all the time.”

Lewis’ home was quiet Wednesday afternoon except for a two-person team from a Massachusetts-based cleaning company.

Deputy Gross mysteriously disappeared when he went to Barre to collect $250 from a man found liable in a civil matter. The next day the deputies car was found in a wooded area east of Barre. The man...